NHL | Three keys to victory for Blue Jackets game 2

Friday

Apr 14, 2017 at 12:37 PMApr 14, 2017 at 12:37 PM

Tom Reed The Columbus Dispatch @treed1919

PITTSBURGH – The Blue Jackets played a decent first period in Game 1 of its playoff series with the Penguins. But the hosts took the game by the throat early in the second period and never let go until the final horn in a 3-1 win.

Coach John Tortorella and the Blue Jackets cannot afford to fall into an 0-2 hole in a series, which resumes Friday night at PPG Paints Arena. Here are three keys to sending the series back to Columbus knotted with Game 3 on Sunday.

GENERATE REBOUNDS: The Jackets’ lack of offense, the biggest storyline with the team over the last three weeks, is threatening to make this a short series if not corrected. Columbus has scored 22 goals in the past 12 games. You might beat Pittsburgh 2-1 once in the series, but the Jackets need goals to keep pace with the high-scoring Penguins.

The Jackets need to create more second-chance opportunities. They spent a portion of practice Thursday shooting at their goaltenders’ pads looking to create rebounds. A few bad-angle shots also are a good way to manufacture chances. But rebounds are only beneficial if the offensive team finds a way to the net. The Jackets must spend more time between the dots and on top of Marc-Andre Fleury’s crease in Game 2.

MANAGING MOMENTUM: The Penguins are going to score goals. They possess too much firepower in the form of Sidney Crosby, Phil Kessel and Evgeni Malkin to be shut down. But the Jackets can’t allow one goal to become two in short order as they did in Game 2.

Bryan Rust and Phil Kessel tallied 2:30 apart early in the second period. They nearly made it a three-goal lead if not for a big save from Sergei Bobrovsky on a Kessel breakaway. Managing momentum is always important, but it’s vital in the playoffs, especially on the road. The Jackets failed to stifle it Wednesday and it cost them a game.

Tortorella said yesterday he would love to see the Blue Jackets answer with a goal. But Brandon Dubinsky said short of an immediate response on the scoreboard, the Jackets need to “hit some singles or doubles.” Those can come in the form of a big hit or several good shifts in the offensive zone that quiet the Pittsburgh crowd.

BOUNCE BACK FROM SAAD: Tortorella benched Brandon Saad in the third period of his first playoff game as a Blue Jacket – in his hometown no less. After a bright start, Saad and his linemates Nick Foligno and Alexander Wennberg faded. Sadd, who has just seven goals over the last 34 games, was dropped from the line to start the third period and nailed to the bench minutes later following a turnover.

Tortorella has spent two years looking to push buttons of a talented winger who’s scored 55 goals in that span, but lacked consistency. Will benching him in front of family and friends produce the desired response?

We’ll find out in a few hours. The Jackets need Saad and Cam Atkinson to regain their goal scoring form.